Final ceremony to celebrate contributions made to LGBT equality over the past decade

New category to celebrate greater trans representation in the media

Stonewall hosts its final annual awards ceremony next month, and is marking the occasion by celebrating 10 years of achievements of lesbian, gay and bi people and their allies. The charity has also added a new award to the ceremony to commend positive trans representation in the media.

Sir Ian McKellen, one of Stonewall’s founders, will preside over the final awards night which takes place on 5 November at London’s V&A.

Nominees for this special award ceremony, supported by Visa Europe, have been selected from previous Stonewall award-winners recognising the contribution they have made to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people over the past decade.

Stonewall Chief Executive Ruth Hunt said: ‘We’ve been on an incredible journey since we launched our awards. Ten years ago, a peck on the lips between two men on TV would have caused uproar, and books featuring lesbian characters rarely made the best-seller list. And this was one of the only award ceremonies to celebrate the achievements of the lesbian, gay and bi community. That simply isn’t the case today, and ceremonies and awards that recognise the success and diversity of our wonderful community have blossomed.

‘We have therefore decided that now is the time for us to step back, making this year’s awards the final Stonewall Awards. But there is still a long way to go. Greater diversity of LGBT people is absolutely essential and the power of this should not be underestimated. Having a richer and more varied range of role models means that everyone, no matter what their religion, ethnicity, age, background or identity, can see themselves positively represented. And this ensures that every person, wherever they are, knows they are not alone, and that they don’t have to hide. Watch this space for something new next year, which will reflects all our communities and brings people from across those communities together.’

As well as celebrating the past 10 years, a new category has been introduced to this year’s ceremony to recognise the progress the media has made in positively representing trans people and their experiences. This category will be judged by members of Stonewall’s Trans Advisory Group.

In previous years, Stonewall has also named a ‘Community Group of the Year’ at the Awards. However, for the final Awards ceremony, all of the previous winners in this category will be showcased in the Programme in recognition of the amazing and important work they do for LGBT people and communities.

Stonewall is Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, working to create a world where every single person can be accepted without exception.

It was founded in 1989 by a small group of people who wanted to break down barriers to equality. Stonewall continues to campaign and lobby government to change laws to ensure everyone, everywhere, is free to be themselves.

Stonewall works in partnership with a growing network of more than 700 organisations to help create real change for the better. It campaigns to eliminate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in communities, and empowers LGBT people and their allies to be role models wherever they live, work, shop, socialise or pray.